When Valerie Farrugia first ventured down to her local track to watch her son compete in his school’s sports day, little did she know that it would be the beginning of a journey that would see her named Malta’s 2013 winner of the European Athletics Women’s Leadership Award. [Read more…]
Jonathan Balzan is Malta’s Fastest Ever
A BMW Malta Marathon and Half-Marathon that opened up with a record number of applications – 1050 at the last count – was enlivened by the setting of a new marathon record by Joshua Kipchumba.
It was clear from early on that the Kenyan, winner two years ago with a time of 2:21, was going to go below the 2:19:08 that the Sicily based Moroccan athlete Abdel Kebir Marchanne set back in 2005 such was the pace that he imposed. The questions was by how much. [Read more…]
Giselle Camilleri profile
Paul Grech profiles Malta’s Giselle Camilleri
There is one fundamental difference between a person who is successful and someone who fails to reach his potential: determination.
This applies to atheltics just as much as it does to everday life. Two years ago, Giselle Camilleri was on the verge of quiting athletics. The disappointment of having to miss the Small Nations Games held in San Marino was simply too much.
It was at that point that she dug out the determination that is typical among winners. Instead of giving up, she decided to give it another go and began training once again. And she received her reward in June of this year when she managed to clinch a bronze medal in the 10,000m of the Small Nations’ Games held in Malta. [Read more…]
Jonathan Balzan profile
Paul Grech profiles the late development of local runner Jonathan Balzan
Few take up athletics with the sole objective of becoming the best in their sport. For many, running is a way through which they can stay physically active, a means of relieving the stress of modern life. And if they start to clock good times, ambitions change accordingly.
Jonathan Balzan never considered athletics as anything more than an occasional pastime. Doing a school fun run gave him his first taste of running, and he eventually progressed to the various distance-running events held in Malta. On his own he learnt how to pace himself and on his own he improved his finishing times. [Read more…]
Carmen Hili profile
“I Look at my Finishing Time Rather Than My Placing” by Paul Grech
Even with the Maltese public Carmen Hili is a rather anonymous figure, largely unknown outside the circle of those who retain an avid interest in athletics. Yet, along with Carol Galea and Giselle Camilleri, she is among the leading Maltese female long distance athletes. [Read more…]
Tanya Blake – God Given Talent
Tanya Blake – ‘God Gave Me a Talent And I Didn’t Want to Waste It’
Paul Grech profiles Malta’s top female runner Tanya Blake
It has been a good year for Tanya Blake. Not only has the 32 year old been winning medals for her adopted country of Malta, she’s also finally managed to dip below the two minute waterline that in the 800 meters traditionally separates the good from the average athletes. An achievement that not only guarantees her place in next year’s Olympics but also means that she has finally overcome possibly the biggest barrier of her career. [Read more…]
Zurrieg Half 2005 Report
Zurrieq yesterday woke up to the shouts of hundreds of young children as they ran through the village core. With the roads free of any form of traffic, they took advantage of the number of fun runs organised by Zurrieq Wolves Athletics Club in celebration of the World Run Day to temporarily reclaim the roads for pedestrians. [Read more…]
Pulling Down the Age Barriers
Paul Grech discusses the changing pace in the aging athlete
What happens to an athlete when the years start to catch up and he can no longer keep the pace? Does he simply give up and quit? That’s exactly what used to happen some years back when the only alternatives open to those eager to stay involved in their sport were to either take up coaching or else a role in administration. [Read more…]
Malta International Challenge 2004
Poul Greena Wins Malta International Challenge Marathon by Paul Grech
If there was ever a sporting event where calculators could be considered an essential accessory it was certainly at the third and final leg of this year’s Malta International Challenge Marathon. [Read more…]
One to Watch Out For Christian Formosa
One to Watch Out For Christian Formosa – 800m by Paul Grech
St. Patrick’s AC has never enjoyed a reputation of being a club renown for it’s track athletes, focusing instead on long distance events. However, all that could be about to change thanks also to a good number of young athletes coming through the ranks. [Read more…]